125 BEVA Trust veterinary volunteers help more than 1000 UK horses

Eager BEVA Trust veterinary volunteers have shown their passion for horse welfare by helping make a difference to the lives of more than 1000 horses in the UK.

125 volunteers have participated in a total of 21 national equine healthcare and education clinics to date. This is in addition to those BEVA members who have volunteered their services for overseas work with the BEVA Trust.

The BEVA Trust provides opportunities, support and funding to allow BEVA members to volunteer for projects that enhance equine welfare both locally and globally.

Over the past three years vets, nurses, students, and farriers have volunteered their time and expertise to help a total of 1017 horses attending health care clinics around the country. Coordinated by the British Horse Society, and with practical support from a number of other equine welfare charities, the clinics provide dental care, farriery, worming, microchipping and passporting for horses identified to be in need. A total of 483 horses have also been castrated.

Meanwhile, fourteen globetrotting volunteers have travelled further afield, working on projects in Cambodia, the Gambia, Honduras, Kiev, Nicaragua, the Ukraine and Morocco. They have worked with local organisations to assist with routine equine veterinary care and education clinics, directly and indirectly helping to make a real difference to the lives of countless needy horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.

October’s Healthcare and Education clinic in Castleford, West Yorkshire, saw volunteers reach the milestone of treating the 1000th horse.

Mark Bowen, former president of BEVA, and a BEVA Trust volunteer said: “It was an immense privilege to be part of the clinic that reached the landmark 1000th horse receiving veterinary care because of the partnership between BHS and BEVA Trust. These clinics improve horse welfare both directly by the work done on the day, and indirectly through the education and contact with horse owners who often lack trust in the “establishment”.

“The team approach to the way the vets work at these clinics is inspiring, with younger colleagues being nurtured and supported despite the high volume and pressure of the work that needs to be completed on the day. It is the reason so many of our volunteers want to keep volunteering.”

The clinics have been generously supported by Zoetis, HAPPA, Well Equine, Bransby, Blue Cross, Redwings, World Horse Welfare, RSPCA, SSPCA, The Donkey Sanctuary, Bloomfields, TGCA, CHAPS, Safe4, Horseweigh, Baileys, Horsewatch, Police, Local Authorities and The Equine Register. Thanks to a £50,000 grant from South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) the BHS has recently acquired a special healthcare vehicle for use at future clinics.

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